Visits

Author Visits and Presentations

I’d love to visit your school or library!

For Schools:

In-person school author visits can be geared around any of my books. Older students can learn about biodiversity and get excited about planning their own eco-action project or school garden with help from my Green Earth Book Award title, THE STORY OF SEEDS. Or they can discover the recipe for research with a workshop focused on BEASTLY BRAINS or Crystal Kite award winner, SNIFFER DOGS.

Younger students can decide what they would pack for a trip around the world, like Nellie Bly, or they can listen to Junior Library Guild selection, PIZZA FOR THE QUEEN, and enjoy a pizza party!

I encourage students to find their own story and discover the joys of writing and research in classroom workshops and assembly programs. Research emphasizes fact finding and exploration.

Teachers decide what format of presentation works best for their students.

It is meaningful for students to have the opportunity to read one or more of my books before my visit. I’ll help arrange a sale with a local bookstore for the school. Autographing is always available. I also love small group lunch time chats with students, if possible!

If an in-person visit is not available for your school, I do offer free short virtual author visits for classes who have read one or more of my books. Email me for more information. Signed bookplates are available if a sale is planned with a local bookstore.

In addition – I enjoy chatting about science and research with middle school and high school students and am happy to plan a side trip to visit a science class during my visit to a school district. Schools can often team up and host me in area schools.

For Adults:

Find out more about writing, research, and revision from me at an SCBWI event, library conference or teacher professional development program. I would be pleased to speak to you about using nonfiction in your classroom setting. As the Regional Advisor of the Eastern NY SCBWI region, I give regular programs on nonfiction writing and children’s publishing. Please contact me by email to plan a presentation for your group or program.

Costs: Author visits range from $250 for a library program to $1200 for a full day school visit with up to 6 sessions. Out of town expenses are additional. Talking with other school in your district or neighboring district can make visits much more affordable. Week-long residences are also available and would be discounted. Please contact me if you are writing a grant and need assistance!

Here are some additional ideas to help you fund an author visit:

Treat the visit as a field trip that doesn’t involve travel! Each student can pay a small amount to offset the author fee.

Apply for the Amber Brown Grant through the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Two school are selected each year to receive an all expense paid author/illustrator visit.

Check your local arts council or education council for available grants.

Offset the cost with a book sale! Many indie bookstores will help coordinate a sale that will serve as a fundraiser for your school.

Team up with another school, a local library, bookstore, or museum to share the costs to bring an author/illustrator to your area.

Take advantage of authors attending a regional book festival, reading association conference, or other book event in your area. Find out what authors are attending and contact them ahead of time so they can make a stop at your school while they are in the area. I am happy to arrive a day early or stay a day late and visit a local school if I am speaking at NCTE, a reading council, or local festival.

Sample Elementary Day Schedule:

9:15- 9:45 5th grade in the library — Sniffing Out a Good Story (Research is a treasure hunt and is useful for all writing! Tips and tricks when researching to discover facts not fiction! – Ties in with SNIFFER DOGS)

10:15 – 10:45 Grade 2 Around the World with Nellie Bly (Students discover a real person who followed her dream. Perfect for Women’s History Month)

11- 11:30 Grade 1 read PIZZA FOR THE QUEEN (The path of a picture book and a tasty read!)